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| Sunset in Vela Luka |
Saturday 2nd May, 2015
There’s a liberating feeling that comes with being on a boat—a sense of freedom and escape. As we sailed toward the island of Korčula, the town of Split gradually shrank in the distance, revealing a panorama of nature from every angle. We glided past tiny, uninhabited islands, crammed with trees instead of tourists. During the three-hour ferry ride, my excitement grew with each passing moment, as I anticipated a break from the clamour of modern life.
Vela Luka, a quaint town in the Croatian Dalmatian Islands, was an unexpected find for my boyfriend, Jack and I - I hadn’t even heard of it until earlier that day. It felt less touristy than other areas, offering an easy route to our next destination, Dubrovnik. After spending time in bustling places, we were eager for peace and quiet—a chance to reflect on the past few weeks and everything we’d experienced up until this moment. Travelling can be overwhelming, and while living in the moment is fulfilling, sometimes it’s essential to pause and rest.
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| Walking along the seafront in Vela Luka |
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| Colourful houses in Vela Luca |
We arrived in Vela Luka during the evening, with several hours of sunlight still to enjoy, and I felt a deep sense of calm and contentment, free from any expectations. Vera, the owner of our apartment for the night, greeted us at the boat and led us to our accommodation. Our communication was a combination of awkward sign language and exaggerated pronunciations, but somehow, it made sense.
Our apartment was simple, embodying the essence of Southern Slavic living, similar to the Mediterranean region.“We’d better make the most of this,” I thought to myself, especially since we were accustomed to sharing dorm rooms and the deep snores of weary travellers.
We wandered within the rural Dalmatian town, admiring the orange rooftops, perfectly framed by green hills and ancient walls, the Adriatic Sea serving as a backdrop. The town was so peaceful that we encountered only about ten people and a few dogs along the way.
I found myself captivated by the colours of the sunset until the final sliver of sunshine disappeared. It was by far the most beautiful view that I had seen so far. Eager to explore more in the morning, I returned to the apartment as night fell, ready for a restful sleep.
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| Beautiful backdrop in Vela Luka |
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| Nature porn in Vela Luka |
Sunday 3rd May, 2015
Feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, and making a rare effort to stick to our daily food budget of cheese and crackers, Jack and I set off. Walking along the seafront, soaking up the warm breeze and the salty sea spray, we noticed an elderly man with a young girl, presumably his granddaughter. He had just pulled a squid from the water with his bare hands, showing it to the visibly excited girl before letting it drop onto the ground. We stood there, captivated, as the strange, slimy creature wriggled back toward the sea, leaving a trail of ink in its wake. It was quite a sight!
We continued our walk and stumbled upon a bakery. Naturally, we couldn't resist going in, and I’m so glad we did! The pastries were so delicious and affordable that Jack and I went back and forth for seconds and thirds!
We meandered around the Vela Luka Old Town for a few hours, revelling in the peaceful ambience and the cultural heritage. After walking in the hot sun, we decided to head back to the apartment to cool off—it was sweltering! We picked up a few beers from the supermarket and settled onto the balcony with some music. I truly felt like I was on vacation, and I kept asking Jack, “Is this what travelling feels like?” We were amazed at how easy and stress-free everything had been so far.
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| Beautiful town of Vela Luka |
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| Bell Tower, St. Joseph Church in Vela Luka |
As the afternoon began to wane, Jack and I decided to embark on a hike. He was fascinated by the rock formations in the surrounding hills, so we set out to explore them ourselves. We trudged up the steep slopes and over rocky terrain, navigating through bushes, climbing over tree trunks, and pushing through long grass and dense underbrush, avoiding buzzing bees and the occasional snake. By the time we reached the top, I was drenched in sweat. In the end, the intriguing ruins we had come to see turned out to be little more than crumbling walls from long-ago settlements. From a distance, they certainly looked more impressive, but it was a fun walk nonetheless.
Standing at the top, with the world spread out beneath us, Vela Luka shone brightly. It’s funny how life sometimes leads you to unexpected places, and Vela Luka was a pleasant surprise, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for this place and this moment.
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| Double Denim B*****s |
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| The view was worth the walk in Vela Luka |
I was sweating profusely as we made our way back down, and my feet felt grimy and damp; it was clear I needed to swap out my bulky walking boots for something more breathable.
Of course, another sunset greeted us. It was too good to miss that I had to excuse myself from a conversation to capture some pictures, which probably seemed rude, as we had just met Larissa, a 20-year-old student from Seattle, at a bar where we had stopped for a drink. She was young and ambitious, travelling solo through Europe, and our conversation flowed easily as we connected over our shared love of travel and photography. By the time we wrapped up our chat, it was nearly dark and our walk and worked up an appetite.
Jack and I had to be up at 4:30am the next day to catch our bus to Dubrovnik. Whilst I was incredibly excited about our upcoming adventure, I felt a tinge of sadness at leaving Vela Luka and its charm behind. Still, I figured our time there had been just right. We said our goodbyes to Larissa, wishing each other well as we parted ways. It had been a wonderful day, filled with unexpected moments, and I was looking forward to climbing into bed.
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